12 Misconceptions about Screenwriting that are Fueling Your Frustration

As a screenwriter outside this industry, it can feel like you're banging your head against a wall with no chance of breaking in. But don't fall for these narratives.

Welcome to my Weekly Email Newsletter! Every week, I do a deep dive into an aspect of the craft and business of screenwriting from a (former) literary manager’s perspective.

Today’s post is for subscribers only. If you’re new here, I recommend checking out the free posts at this link to sample what this newsletter has to offer.

Otherwise, keep reading for my insights on the truth of the business side of Hollywood.

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When I first started as an Assistant in Hollywood ten years ago, I got a front row seat to watching professional screenwriters build their careers.

Because I was a film school graduate immersed in the assistant world working for a literary management company, I tended to only interact with screenwriters who had embarked on this journey from the same starting point. Or writers who had already achieved success after launching their career years ago.

It was only once I started regularly doing consulting work for companies like Stage 32 and Roadmap Writers that I began to have career conversations with screenwriters totally outside the industry.

Now that I have built a community on LinkedIn and occasionally pop over to Screenwriter Reddit to see what everyone is talking about¹, I consistently notice many writers have the same frustrations.

These come from misconceptions, entitlement, bad advice, and/or wishful thinking.

Today I’m going to address and dispel the ones I see most often.

Don’t get mad at me. I am not responsible for any of the realities I lay out here in this deep dive. Nor do I necessarily condone them. Pulling the wool off of your eyes and acknowledging the hard truths about this industry will be painful.

But the truth that comes from pain is the first step to actually finding success here.